Apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors.



No. 745,470. PATENTED 1330.1, 1903.

' G. WILTON. APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATIONOF'AMMONIAGAL LIQUORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

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PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

G. WILTON. APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION 0P AMMONIAGAL LIQUORS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

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Patented December 1, mos.

GEORGE WILTON, or LONDON, ENGLANI').

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF AMMONIACAL LIQUORS.

EPECIFIOATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 745,470, dated December1, 1903.

Application filed November 3,1902. Serial No. 129,792- Nc mcde i To CbZZwhom/it may concern.-

Be itknown that L'GEORGE .VVILTON, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of London, England, have invented certain newand useful improvements in Ap paratus for the Distillation of AmmoniacalLiquors, of which the following is a specif ication.

This invention relates to apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacalliquors. Apparatus for this purpose as commonly used consists ofsuperposed circular trays or chambers constituting a tower, each of saidtrays or chambers being provided with a pipeextending for a suitabledistance above and bebelow the bottom of the tray, the upper end of thispipe passing up to a suitable height above its tray to insure a properliquid-level therein and the lower extremity reaching down toapproximately the liquid-level of the tray next below.

central opening to allow the steam by which the distillation is efiectedto rise up through the series of trays. Over the steam-orifice of eachtray is mounted a circular hood or baffle, usually serrated at itsperiphery, and which dips below the level of the liquid in the tray. Theammoniacal liquor passes down by the pipes through the series of trays,and the steam rises through the trays, bubbling out under the edges ofthe baffles through the liquor and thence rising to the next tray orchamber. Apparatus constructed in this manner has several defects.First, it is very difficult to clean, even by the mud-holes which areprovided in the sides of the trays for the purpose, because the chambersor trays are necessarily shallow and the pipes by which the liquorpasses down from tray to tray extend up and down, as before mentioned,to the liquid-level in each tray. It is thus practically impossible toget at the interior of these pipes to clean them through the mudholes.Moreover, the hoods over-the steamopenings are too large to be removedthrough the mud-holes, and consequently they cannot be cleaned with anydegree of efficiency. Further, as these handles are circular and a.

considerable space exists between their outer circumference and thesides of the trays or chambers a large amount of liquor flows which isshown partly in'section.

Each of these trays has a around the baffle to the outlet of the traywithout coming under the action of the steam.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these defects and to renderall working parts of the apparatus accessible for cleaning purposes andalso to increase the efficiency of the apparatus.

I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan looking down upon a tray, Fig. 2is a sectional view, showing two trays in section on the line A B inFig. 1 and showing a base and a third tray in section, partly on line AfB of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken approximately on the lineC D in Fig.

1, showing at right hand a baffle-hood and steam-opening in longitudinalsection and at left' hand showing the baffle-hood in Glevation. Fig. 3is a detail view of a modified form of baffle-hood. Figs. 4 and 5 arerespectively a sectional plan and a sectional elevation of a trayshowing a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a plan viewshowing another modification, thebaliies being shown partly broken away.

According to one part of my inventionI make the steam-openings a of thetrays or chambers A and the baffles or hoods b thereof, which dependinto the liquor in the trays, of somewhat narrow elongated form, and Iextend them across substantially the full width of the trays. Thebaffles b may be formed along their lower edges with a series of holesa, as shown in Fig. 3 or may be serrated, With perforatedsupporting-legs at intervals, as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise formed inthe usualor other convenient way to facilitate the passage of the steamout from below the baffles and up through the liquor, the level of whichwhen quiescent is indicated at as, Fig. 2. I dispose the passages f,which form the inlet-opening for one .tray and the outlet-opening-forthe tray beviolent agitation or ebnllition to the top or roof of thetray, the great bulk of the liquor passing entirely over the baffie, thespaces between the ends of the latter and the sides of the tray beingrestricted to oppose the passage of the liquor around the hood, thuscausing it to flow or be thrown over the hood. During this action theliquor is more or less divided by the steam, and the entire mass passingthrough the tray is thus brought into intimate and thorough contact withthe steam.

In order that the apparatus may be readily accessible for cleaning orother purposes, I provide a mud-hole covered by a plate 6 in the wall ofthe tray A opposite each end of the elongated hoods b, above described,the mud-holes being of greater area than the cross-section of the hoods,so that the hoods may pass lengthwise through them. Through themud-holes when the plates e are removed the said hoods b can be removedwhen desired. The hoods are made with removable ends 22, adapted to bebolted on or removed after the hood has been slid over or before it isremoved from the upwardly-projecting steam-pipe a. The several removableplates may be fastened by thumb-screws, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and3, or by squareheaded bolts, as shown in the other figures, or in anyother suitable way. Further, with the same object of rendering theapparatus easy of access for cleaning or other purposes I form the inletand outlet pipes for the liquor from tray to tray as vertical channelsor passagesfof half-round or other convenient section arranged directlyagainst the side walls of the trays A, so that the side walls forinstance, the portions g-form part of the walls of the said inlet andoutlet passages f. Mud-holes h are also provided opening directly intothe said pipes or channels, so that by removing the mud-hole covers'hthe said connecting passages or channelsfcan be readily cleansed. Theupper part. f of the said passages or channels, which is attached to thefloor of the chambers or trays, may be formed in one therewith, asshown, or fastened thereto. This is also the case with the lowerportionf or it may be made as in the drawings, where the upper partf ismade in one with one tray and the lower party" cast upon the side of thetray beneath in this case. Suitable flanges f will be provided formaking the necessary joint between each two successive trays.

In Fig. 2, A is the lower chamber of the tower, fitted with the usualsteam-inlet and liquid-outlet pipesj 7c and formed with a part f of achannel f, so as to make the required connection with the tray nextabove it.

Figs. fl and 5 show a modification wherein three elongated baffles a, a,and a are employed for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of theapparatusby causing the liquor in passing across the trays from theinlet to the outlet to pass three such steam-baffles. As in the case ofthe construction described in reference to Figs. 1 to 3, mud-holes areprovided for use in removing the hoods for cleaning, either one largemud-hole being used, as shown, or one for each hood, accordingto thespace at command and the distance at which the hoods are set apart.

It may be found advantageous in some cases to make the elongatedopenings C0 and hoods b curved, as shown in Fig. 6, appropriatemud-holes for their removal being provided.

Apparatus constructed as above described will operate with increasedefficiency as compared with that of the old form of circular bafiies,due to the fact that practically none of the liquor under treatment inpassing through the trays can flow from the inlet to the outlet withoutpassing under the infiu ence of the steam issuing from the baffies.Further, the number of the baffles maybe increased with a correspondingincrease in the area over which the steam comes into contact with theliquor.

A further increase in efficiency is due to the improvement in theoperation before described, the large quantity of liquor flowing throughthe apparatusbeing met by the steam in the manner set forth, thuscausing a division of the liquor and its thorough commingling with thesteam. Further, when it is desired to clean the working parts all thatis necessary is to remove the covers of the mudholes and slide out thehoods through the same. The liquor-channels also can be readily cleanedthrough the mud-holes opening thereinto, and the hood after cleaning canbe slid back into place. The steam-channel can also be readily cleanedfrom the mud-holes, which allow of the removal of the hood.

Iclaim as my invention the following-defined novel features,substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with each tray or chamber of inlet and outlet orificesdisposed at opposite sides of said trays or chambers, and an elongatedsteam-opening a and baffle-hood b therefor between said inlet and outletorifices, said orifices being of rela-' tively large size, so that alarge quantity of liquor is passed through the trays, and saidbaftlehood being extended substantially across the full width of thetray so that itopposes the passage of the liquor from one side of thetray to the other, whereby substantially all the liquor is caused topass over the hood, and is thereby subjected directly to the action ofthe steam, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with each tray or chamber of inlet and outlet orificesdisposed at opposite sides of said trays or chambers, and an elongatedsteam-opening a and a baffle-hood b therefor, said. opening and hoodextending across substantially the full Width of said chamber, wherebysubstantially all of the liquor is forced to pass over said hood fromthe inlet to the outlet IIC IIS

orifices, and said steam-opening and hood adapted to deliver the steamat substantially rightangles thereto, whereby to throw the liquor into astate of violent agitation.

In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombinationwith the floor of each tray or chamber of a narrow elongatedsteam-opening Ct, an elongated baffle-hood b for said steam-opening, amud-hole and cover in the wall of the cham ber opposite the ends of saidelongated baffle-hood, said mud-hole being of dimensions which will al-'low of the hood being removed therethrough and replaced, inlet andoutlet pipes disposed on opposite sides of said steam-opening andbafile-hood, said steam-opening and hood extending across substantiallythe entire width of said chamber, whereby the passage of the liquor fromthe inlet to the outlet around said hood is opposed and it issubstantially all forced to pass through or over the same and is thussubjected directly to the action of the steam, said inlet and outletpipes being formed as vertical channels of half-round section disposeddirectly against the side walls of the tray, said side walls of thetrays forming part of the walls of the pipes, mud-holes in the sidewalls of the trays openingdirectly into said inlet and outlet pipes,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with the floor of each tray or chamber of a narrow elongatedsteam-opening a, an elongated baffie-hood b for said steam-opening, amud-hole and cover in the wall of thechamber opposite the ends of saidelongated baffle-hood, said mud-hole being of dimensions which willallow of the hood being removed therethrough and replaced, inlet andoutlet pipes disposed on opposite sides of said steam-opening andhalide-hood, said steam-opening'and hood extending across substantiallythe entire width of said chamber, whereby the passage of the liquor fromthe inlet to the outlet around said hood is opposed and it issubstantially all forced to pass through or over the same and is thussubjected directly to the action of the steam, said inlet and outletpipes having part of their section formed by vertical flanges projectingfrom the floor of the trays and the other portion of their sectionformed by the side walls of the trays, mud-holes in the side walls ofthe trays opening directly into said inlet and outlet pipes,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with thefioor of each tray of a narrow elongatedsteam-opening a passing across the width of said floor, and an elongatedbaffle-hood b for said steam-opening, a mud-hole and cover in the wallof the tray opposite the ends of said elongated baffle-hood, saidmud-hole being of greater area than the cross-section of said hood andsaid hood being of a shape to permit it to be passed lengthwise throughsaid mudhole to be removed and replaced, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with the door of each tray of a narrow elongatedsteam-opening a, having an upward flange along each edge and passingacross the width of said floor, and an elongated bathe-hood b for saidsteam-opening with its edges extending downward over said flanges,detachable ends to. said hood also extending downward over said flanges,a mud-hole and cover in the wall of the tray opposite the ends of saidelongated bafiEle-hood, said mud-hole being of greater area than thecross-sectionof said hood, and said hood being of a shape to permit itto be passed lengthwise through said mud-hole to be removed and replaced,whereby access may be had to detach said ends and whereby after saidends are detached said hood may be slid over said flanges for removal,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors, thecombination with the floor of each tray of a number of parallelelongated steam-openings a passing across the width of the door, anumber of elongated baffle-hoods?) one for each steam-opening, a mudholein the wallof the tray opposite the ends of the said elongatedbafde-hoods, said mudhole being of greater area than the cross-sectionof each of said hoods and said hoods being of a shape and in suchpositions as to permit of their being passed lengthwise through saidmud-hole to be removed or replaced, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

8. In apparatus for the distillation of ammoniacal liquors and formed ofsuperposed trays, a tray, elongated steam-orifices a in the floor of thetray and having an upward flange along each edge, an elongatedbaffle-hood Z) covering said steam-orifice, a mud-hole with covers inthe side walls of said tray opposite the'ends of said baffle-hoods, saidmud-holes being of greater area than the cross-section of each of saidhoods and said hoods being of a shape to permit them to be passedlengthwise through said mud-holes to be removed'and replaced, a flangeformed integrally with the door of the tray and projecting upwardtherefrom and inclosing a space against the side wall so that the sidewall forms a part of the wall inclosing said space, said space formingtogether with a downwardly-proj ecting flange of corresponding shape onthe tray beneath an outlet-pipeforthe liquor from said tray, a flange atthe opposite side of the baflle-hood formed integrally with andinclosing a space against the side wall of the tray open at its base tothe floor of the tray at a level below that of the outlet-pipe saidspace forming together with the upward-projecting flange of the floor ofthe tray above, an inlet-pipe therefrom, a mud-hole in the side wallopening into said inlet-pipe, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9, A tray for ammonia-distilling apparatus comprising in a singlecasting a floor having a steam-opening and a liquor-outlet, a surrounding wall extending upward from said floor and formed at its edgesfor connection with the trays above and below it, an upward flange alongthe edges of said openings, and a liquor-inlet extending from a levelbelow the upper edge of the outlet-flange to the level of the top ofsaid wall.

10. A tray for ammonia-distilling apparatus comprising in a singlecasting a floor having an elongated steam-opening extending across itand a liquor-outlet at one side of said steam-opening and against thewall, a Wall surrounding and extending upward from the floor and formedat its edges for connection with the trays above and below it, an up-GEORGE WILTON.

Witnesses:

REGINALD MARSH, ROBERT W. SPEARPOINT.

